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Sunday, June 1, 2008

The boy is getting smart

I am one proud mama. Trying to homeschool is tricky, even when we believe in unschooling (which is harder than you might think to stick to). But it is all worth it when you see him learning something, even if he is turning the tables on you.
Case in point: When we are out at the grocery store and Shannon asks for fruit, I'll tell him it isn't in season. He is still a little young to fully grasp the concept, so I'll ask him if he sees apples (for example) growing on the trees outside. When he says no, I'll tell him that is because they aren't in season and that when he sees them growing then that means they are in season and he can have them. His latest fruit desire is peaches. Every time we've visited the farmer's market he's asked for them, and of course been told they aren't in season. So, the other evening we were sitting here and I was talking to someone on the phone about wanting some chicken. As anyone who has had a four year old knows, all phone conversations WILL include them. Shannon stated that he wanted chicken too. I told him that we didn't have any (they're still too young and small). He then looked at me and said "But we can have chicken, it's in season" just as matter-of-factly as he could. It took all I had not to break down laughing. See, he's paying attention.
Also, both boys really like the chickens. They both like helping me feed them, scattering some food on the ground for them to eat, and watching them peck for it. Shannon was out there with me the other day and learned the following things: the red thing on top of their heads is called a "comb," boys chickens are called "roosters," and he learned what our yellow chickens are called "buff orpingtons" which he pronounces "buff Or-Beantons." Very cute.
I'm very proud of both of them. Watching them grasp something and take it a step further is so immensely rewarding. It makes all the hard times worth every minute.

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